Friday night in Tampa, Florida at the A La Carte Pavillion, undefeated Filipino lightweight Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta (18-0-1, 8 KOs) who now calls San Diego his home, won by TKO over Oscar ?El Estudiante? Meza (19-4, 17 KOs) after Meza failed to come out for round five.
Once again, the 22 year-old sensation who trains locally and has fought at the Four Points by Sheraton and downtown at the Hard Rock Hotel put on a masterful performance. By doing so he claimed the vacant WBO Americas lightweight belt. With all the people comparing him to Manny Pacquiao, it now appears Gesta is on the fast track, everyone?s ?A? list.
Even though he’s a lefty, Mercito Gesta (right) can hurt you with either hand. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
After their first round feeling out process, Gesta turned it up a notch in the second and started landing some big blows to Meza?s head. Meza was caught again in the third round with a thunderous overhand right. While he was able to weather this onslaught, Meza could never get on track and counter.
Gesta put the finishing touches on his opponent in the fourth when he caught Meza against the ropes and landed a brutal rib-breaking right hook to the body. Clearly in pain, Meza was forced to drop to a knee and then just beat the referee?s count to continue. After he got up, Gesta did everything he could to finish him off, but Meza somehow managed to survive the round.
Just before the bell rang for the fifth round, Meza appeared reluctant to come out and when it did sound, he remained on his stool.
Mercito Gesta (center) is surrounded by just a few of the many people who have lent their support: former minimum-weight champ, Manny Melchor (right), Rogue Boxing exec and co-manager Vince Parra (top center), trainer Carl Penalosa (second from the left), etc. etc. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Unlike most boxers, Gesta benefits from a ton of support. In his corner he has people like promoter Don Chargin and matchmaker Jorge Marron. The boxing coaches and corner people who have helped him reads like a Who?s Who list: Carl Penalosa, Jun Lunas, Vince and Bumpy Parra and even Freddy Roach has lent a hand. The list of the people who have sparred with him is also extraordinary. Antonio Orozco, Jorge Linares, Antonio DeMarco and Marvin Quintero.
With such help, it appears Mercito Gesta will get his wish to challenge the top lightweights, people like Michael Katsidis, Humberto Soto, and anybody else who gets in his way.
